An exhibitors story - Part 1

Yesterday, life in the studio was cracking on as merrily as ever. Today, panic has set in and we are all sitting looking at the longest to-do list any of us has ever seen. What happened? What else – The National Wedding Show of course.

I’m not sure who’s idea it was, although I think we all talked each other into this (helped in no small amount by the lovely Kelly at The National Wedding Show team) but I have a feeling life is just about to get very, very busy.

It will be brilliant. We have no doubt. The National Wedding Show is the perfect place for us to showcase our services and, as this is the first time that Alter Ego Portraits has done anything like this – we figured we ought to do it properly!

So, where to start? The contract has gone back, and we know the stand number (K2, just in case you are wondering) which we have chosen because it is in the corner of the exhibition space near to the toilets. Unlike in a restaurant - this is a positive thing. Apparently, there is reliable research which demonstrates visitors at the show go to the toilet 2.4 times during their visit, so everyone is very likely to see us at least 2.4 times after they have powdered their noses! You have to admit, it makes sense.

The first step this morning was to consider the space we have. We have marked out the equivalent size space on the floor in our studio using masking tape. Then, we all stood in it and wondered how we would fit everything in. Then we sat down, had a coffee and some biscuits (think this could be a regular feature of the next few weeks) and looked at the masking tape for a bit longer. It didn’t make it any bigger. However, the coffee and the biscuits did the trick and we now have a plan in our minds for the furniture we need on the stand.

Practical stuff first. We have albums and pictures that we need to display, so we need something for them to be perched on. However, this display needs to draw visitors onto the stand, not block their access. We need storage space for leaflets and vouchers, and we need to make sure the stand feels open and welcoming. Do we build it ourselves (this could be a very interesting set-up day), or do we find existing pieces we can personalise? I feel a trip to some well know furniture shops coming on....

Erica from Alter Ego Portraits: http://www.alteregoportraits.com/ , www.facebook.com/alteregoportraits or call 01604 871187.

Win a Benjamin Roberts wedding dress at the show courtesy of hitched.co.uk

No one said that planning a wedding was easy. From viewing and choosing the perfect wedding venue to booking the photographer, DJ and honeymoon a wedding planning couple work hard together as a team to create and organise a magical day.

One of the biggest parts of a wedding budget, and something that will guide the style of any day is the all important wedding dress. Typically this would be something that a bride purchases with the help of her bridesmaids or mother, however how would you like to involve your groom and give him the chance to win you your beautiful gown!

Hitched.co.uk know how important your wedding dress will be as you walk down that aisle, and therefore we are giving your groom the opportunity to play a major part in what will be one of the most important moments of your big day.

By simply playing and winning 3 straight games of pool in a row your groom, or yourself, will be entered into a draw to win a Blue by Enzoani designer wedding dress, plus a cocktail dress from the LOVE collection for the evening, or A £1200 contribution towards an Enzoani collection dress plus a cocktail dress from the LOVE collection for the evening.

If your groom has taken a back seat when it comes to helping you plan your big day then bring him down to the hitched.co.uk stand at the National Wedding Show for a game, or 3, of pool. The hitched team will be at both London and Birmingham in order to raise awareness to your grooms on how important your wedding dress is to you, the fabulous bride.

Visit http://www.hitched.co.uk/ for further information

A hen for the weekend

Our blogging bride Grace celebrated her official send off to married life at the weekend surrounded by her hens

After 10 months of planning my much awaited hen weekend was finally upon us, and despite the torrential rain (well it is England) a fantastic time was had by all. 17 of my bessie mates, family and family-to-be descended on Bournemouth for a girly weekend from as far afield as South Africa.

On Friday night, a girly night was planned – my maid of honour Katherine, arranged for a pamper party service to come to the house (decked in Hen Party decorations!), so we had treatments such as massages, facials and pedicures in between sips of cocktails and girly banter. National Wedding Show exhibitor ‘Blush’ offer a great pamper party package; see the website for more details http://www.blush.uk.com/parties.php. My bridesmaid Louise also surprised us with some fun games which were a hoot after a few rounds of drinks.

On Saturday our beach picnic was rained off so we had afternoon tea which my maid of honour planned – as I have mentioned in a previous blog, I am a cake fanatic so it really was my heaven!
In the evening we all got glammed up and went to an amazing restaurant overlooking the sea – my mum had arranged for us to hire the private room, which was basically a glass box perched on a cliff, very dramatic and the food was amazing. No hen party is complete without dancing the night away, my bridesmaid Louise arranged for us to go to a club where my all time favourite DJ was playing; I was over the moon!

All in all it was a wonderful send off for me into the world of marriage-hood, spent with the people who mean more to me than anything. My bridesmaids’, friends and family went to so much effort to make sure it really was perfect!

A hen party should be something personal to you, for some more unusual ideas for hen parties, the National Wedding Show has it all – from haunted house experiences with Haunted Happenings http://www.hauntedhappenings.co.uk/ to bridal confidence coaching with an ex supermodel Michele Paradise https://mail.goodresults.co.uk/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.micheleparadise.com/bigday, dance workshops with Dance Experiences https://mail.goodresults.co.uk/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.dancexperiences.co.uk to bespoke millinery courses with luxury hat maker Janie Lawson www.janielawson.com/janielawsonmillc.html

Hitched.co.uk have teamed up with the NWS to give you the chance to win a designer wedding dress plus a cocktail dress for the evening

Play and win 3 games of pool!

Simply play and win 3 consecutive games of pool against 3 different opponents to be entered into a draw to win.

You could even double your chances by bringing along your husband to be!

Win yourself a Blue by Enzoani designer wedding dress, plus a cocktail dress from the LOVE collection for the evening

or

A £1200 contribution towards an Enzoani collection dress plus a cocktail dress from the LOVE collection for the evening

Additionally, visit the hitched.co.uk stand and register with us to be entitled to a 10% voucher towards an Enzoani wedding dress to be redeemed at participating stockist's. Plus a 10% voucher towards the hitched.co.uk Wedding Shop.

Visit www.hitched.co.uk for further information

Terms and Conditions Apply

Food Glorious Food…

Our blogging bride Grace continues on her quest to plan the perfect wedding

Steven and I are unashamed to confess that we are real foodies! One of the massive draws of our chosen venue Haberdashers’ Hall was the award winning caterers that accompany it, Chester Boyd. We knew deciding on a menu for our 80 guests was going to be tough, so we ‘roped’ in my Mum and Dad to help us decide so they came along for the day. I hasten to add they didn’t need much persuading!

We spent a wonderful afternoon at Haberdashers’ Hall, we pre chose options for each course to taste – two amuse- bouche, two starters, two main courses and two desserts – all washed down with champagne! Each dish was as delicious as the next and we are still trying to decide between lamb or duck for a main.

With our gorgeous Ivy Ellen http://ivyellenweddinginvitations.co.uk/bespoke invites now in the post, we are eagerly awaiting our guests to RSVP so we make all the final arrangements with the venue and start the all important and much daunting task of the table plan!

Next stop - Bananas about cake

Next on the list of wedding ‘to-do’s’ was to choose our cake – as a passionate cake baker this has to be something really special! With so many options to choose from cupcakes, dessert cakes, cheesecakes, even Whoopie Pie cakes – my first stop was to ask some National Wedding Show exhibitors for advice – all of whom suggested that we go with what we really like rather than what is in fashion.

We decided pretty early on that we wanted a cake that looked very traditional (in keeping with our venue and theme) but should have a bit of a modern twist. With banana cake being my ultimate favourite and chocolate being Steven’s, we have chosen a layer of each to accompany the traditional fruit. We hope the four tier creation will impress our guests!

If you too are looking for a London based company to fulfil your cake dreams:
You will find stunning bespoke cakes at The Little Cakery http://www.thelittlecakery.co.uk/

For the ultimate cupcake tower The Humming Bird Bakery will impress http://hummingbirdbakery.com/

If traditional isn’t your bag, indulge in the ultimate dessert cake at The English Cheesecake Company http://www.englishcheesecake.com/

Wedding-tastic week! First stop – DRESS!

Bride to be Grace Dewhurst has had a wedding-tatsic week - managing to fit months of planning into a few days - we salute you!

Wow what a week! We seemed to do more in five days than five months. I started with the first fitting of my wedding dress and got see my beautiful ‘Samantha’ in the ‘flesh’ so to speak. Sassi Holford had certainly worked wonders as the dress did not need any alterations at all, and felt light as a feather despite the multitude of tulle!

Now I just need some suitable accessories to accompany ‘Samantha’ – I have chosen to have a mid length veil with simple satin edging and no blush so a sparkly headpiece would look fabulous.
A National Wedding Show favourite of mine, Juliann Beads http://www.julieannbeads.co.uk/ offer some really gorgeous combs – which are a lovely modern twist on a traditional wedding favourite. You can also order brooches to match which will really suit the drop waist line of the dress. My favourite range is Moonlight, which is a vintage style bridal chic mix of pearl and crystal.

For our first engagement anniversary Steven surprised me with Diamond earrings to match my engagement ring – so I will wear those for the day as my ‘something old’. I am hoping Mum might lend me her diamond necklace as my ‘something borrowed’!

Next stop - sorting out the cake..

Grace xx